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Writing Sparks Newsletter
October 17, 2008
Greeting |
My warmest greetings to you. I hope this newsletter finds you happy, healthy and actively pursuing your writing dreams. I'm trying something new this week by theming the Writing Sparks newsletter. This week, we're bashing the evil cliché, so keep reading to see if you're guilty of the worst offenses. As I was writing the newsletter, I started thinking about the importance of reading. Surprisingly, I meet a lot of writers who say they don't read. Some of them have varying reasons (they hate to have their own work influenced by others or some other reason) while others just don't enjoy it. I'm avid reader, so I admit, I just don't get it. The use, or lack thereof, of cliché is so integral to good writing, that this alone should be a key reason for reading as much as possible. The more you read, the more you will recognize the words, phrases and scenes that are being overused within your preferred genre. Rest assured that eve if you as a reader do not recognize a cliché in your own work, an agent or publisher will sure as heck spot them (oops, I was about to say a mile away, but that would have just killed my point.) If you don't get the joke, you are among the first that had better start doing some research on what exactly a cliché is. Really, I cant emphasize enough how important reading is. And please, if you don't read, never, ever admit this to an agent or publisher. (They will probably be able to figure it out from your writing, though). Just as athletes must do constant training and conditioning to keep their muscles in top shape, so must writers keep on top of their own genre to see what's popular, what's not, and what's being repeated over and over. Enough nagging. In the personal world of Monica, things are also going well. We've been busy at work, but it's a good kind of busy. The structural changes at OnceWritten.com are also keeping me busy, but I think you will all be pleased by the new look, unrolling in 2009. As always, I thank all of you for your ongoing support and patience. The site would be nowhere with you, and I never, ever forget that. Happy writing! Monica PS Look for a special Halloween-themed email coming next week, which will announce the two fabulous winners of our Midnight Hour Horror Fiction Contest. Also we're going to be doing a special Halloween giveaway, where five subscribers will win 10 Halloween-themed books. This contest will only be open to Writing Sparks subscribers, so get your friends and family to sign up now. |
Nominate |
Please Nominate us as a Writers Digest Top 101 Website Take a second to send an email to writersdig@fwpubs.com and ask them to consider OnceWritten.com as one of their 101 Best Websites for Writers for 2009. Subject: Writers Digest Top 101 Websites for Writers Body Copy: Please consider OnceWritten.com for your top 101 Websites for Writers for 2009. [Feel free to add a personal message if you'd like.] |
Get Past |
Literally, a High-Octane Query Letter, To the Bitter End On the subject of the evil cliché, never forget that once you've eradicated all overused phrases from your fiction, your query letter had better also be a cliché-free zone. Agents have seen and heard just about everything (mostly more than once), so watch out for the phrases that do nothing to further your query, and serve only to identify you as a rank amateur. Nathan Bransford, a literary agent with San Francisco-based Curtis Brown, keeps a list of "dead clichés" on his blog. Be sure to read your way through the "comments" section, as they are almost as good as the main post. www.nathanbransford.blogspot.com |
This Week's Assignment |
Seen that Scene Before? The life or death of a manuscript is often tied into the number of times the ugly cliché finds its way into the piece of work. Some define cliché as an overused expression, while others are more strict, defining it as any phrase that's been heard before. In fiction, the cliché is not just reserved for overused phrasing, but can also apply to stories that have been told time and time again. In either case, writers should strive to keep their work cliché-free. My personal (least) favorites? Manhood. It is silly, but few readers have any doubts as to its meaning, which must be why people keep using it. Also, I always react violently "think outside the box." That term is so inside the box. Does any team really feel motivated anymore by hearing this obnoxious phrase? What other clichés (phrases as well as scenes) can you think of? Find a way to rewrite an overused scene using a fresh voice. Feeling lost? Visit Strange Horizons to see a really great list of fiction no nos. This list is targeted towards science fiction writers, but it is one all writers would do well to peruse. Need more inspiration? Take a look at these seven graphics overused on the World Wide Web. www.justcreativedesign.com |
Writing Sparks |
Creative Writing Prompt #1 Story Idea -- Write a story about Gustavo, a psychic dog who can accurately predict winning lotto numbers. Creative Writing Prompt #2 Build Character -- Write a scene about what happens when a character you're working on gets trapped inside a car for two hours after a terrible car accident. Want More Prompts? Monthly Membership Writer's block, be gone! For less than the price of one cup of coffee a month, you can receive daily creative writing prompts designed to get your pencils blazing. www.oncewritten.com/DailyWritingSpark.php. |
Meet |
Publishing My First Book: John Addiego I am one of
those people who crawls out of bed every morning at five to write before
reporting to the paid work that supports a family. I've done it for decades,
and I know there are thousands of others doing this...More John Addiego Read more Publishing My First Book essays now. Meet The Author: Cheryl Kaye Tardif  I've
always been a dreamer, and I've always believed in dreaming BIG. Ever since
I was a young girl, my goal was to become the next Stephen King―or
'Stephanie', at least. It's been a long, hard journey, but one well worth
it, and now I am...More Cheryl Kaye Tardif Read more Meet The Author essays now. |
What's New in |
The Ride, Jane Kennedy Sutton A
funny, poignant adventure of a 40-something woman taken on the ride of herRead an excerpt from The Ride now. Sifting Through Secrets, Elizabeth Hawn  Ida
Mae and Claudia, neighbors in a retirement community, untangle the secrets
surrounding two murders in their small North Carolina town, one in the past and
one in theRead an excerpt from Sifting Through Secrets now. The Organ Grinder and the Monkey, Sam Moffie  Seymour
Petrillo, Constance Powers and Irving Hanhart , three protagonists' from vastly
different backgrounds intimately share a very public secret - one therapist who
impacts them all. From Steubenville, Ohio (Petrillo) to Boardman, Ohio (Powers)
to Brookline, Massachusetts (Hanhart) - the three protagonist's imaginative and
individualRead an excerpt from The Organ Grinder and the Monkey now. Pirate Queen: The Curse, R. Allen Downey  Uniquely
based on an actual female pirate who dominated the China Sea during the 1920s
and 30s until her sudden disappearance, Pirate Queen: The Curse by R. Allen
Downey explores many intriguing what-ifs about her vanishing, including her
sinister yet inexplicable resurrection. A dramatic story that is as frenetic as
it is unsettling, this wildlyRead an excerpt from Pirate Queen: The Curse now. Dark Side Hospital, Charles Clark  Dr.
Noah Spencer retires from retires from private practice and assumes a position
of medical director of a hospital system. He uncovers shocking irregularities in
the hospital\'s quality managementRead an excerpt from Dark Side Hospital now. The African American King, William Jennings  The
African American King addresses social and spiritual unforgiveness that
continues to permeate the heritage of African Americans since slavery, provides
a solution for the disconnection African Americans have toward oneRead an excerpt from The African American King now. Kronen Flies, Matthew Copley  Love,
Intrigue & Corruption. A story about the lives, intrigues and corruptions of
Martin Kronen, a rootless but positive opportunist, and his eccentric wealthy
Russian lover, Daniela Davrilova, who has become estranged from her Russian
millionaire husband. The first corruption plot of Martin and Daniela involves
Daniela's husband as theRead an excerpt from Kronen Flies now. Slash, Jason Jones  Billy Mann was one
of the most sadistic, violent, intelligent, and insane serial killers of our
time. His reign of terror lasted for years and the police have finally captured
him. Now they want to know everything he's done and everyone he's killed.And he plans on telling them - everything. Billy is ruthless and graphic in Read an excerpt from Slash now. Kwatee, R. Allen Downey  In Kwatee,
author R. Allen Downey creates a haunted world on the high seas that is as
wicked as it is entertaining. Readers who enjoy adventures in haunted spaces
such as houses, castles, and graveyards will revel in Kwatee, a horror
and suspense novel that takes place on an eerie naval ship. With a robust prose
and a fast pace, thisRead an excerpt from Kwatee now. |
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Read More Books View a complete list of all our first chapter excerpts at: www.oncewritten.com/First-Chapter-Excerpts.php now. |
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Want to See Your Book Listed Here? Promote your book to nearly 10,000 avid book lovers around the world. Listings start at just $25 for a lifetime spot at OnceWritten.com. www.oncewritten.com/About/Advertise-Your-Book.php |
OnceWritten.com Writing Contests |
OnceWritten.com Fall Fiction Contest Award: $1,000 Fee: $15 Deadline: October 31, 2008 OnceWritten.com Spring Fiction Contest Guidelines OnceWritten.com In the Midnight Hour Halloween Fiction Contest To view past winners of OnceWritten.com writing contests, visit our Literary Lounge now. |
More |
October 31, 2008 OnceWritten.com Fall Fiction Contest Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award Dana Award for Poetry Dana Award for Short Fiction Dana Award for the Novel FundsForWriters Essay Contest Hollis Summers Poetry Prize Teen Paranormal Adventure Club November 1, 2008 Briar Cliff Review Fiction, Poetry & Creative Nonfiction Contest Writer's Digest Popular Fiction Awards See an updated list of all contests at www.oncewritten.com/WritingContests.php. |
We're Talking |
The Writers Network... We welcome the new "Adult Stories" group for writers and readers of erotica. www.oncewritten.ning.com |
Resources for Writers |
Learn at home, on your schedule, with Absolute Classes Novel writing. Book proposals. Screenplays. Poetry. Freelance writing. Our instructors work with you one-on-one, online, giving you assignments and personal feedback, and guiding you through a charted course of learning designed to help you reach your writing goals. Visit www.absoluteclasses.com. FUNDSFORWRITERS The grant source for serious writers. C. Hope Clark knows her stuff. Voted 101 Best Web Sites for Writers - 2001 through 2007. Four newsletters to choose from. A site to behold. www.fundsforwriters.com Tell Us Your Travel Story OnceWritten.com is introducing its sister site, Travel Glitter, and is seeking writers for the site. We pay $10 for a 300-word article. To learn more about the new site, visit www.travelglitter.com/Submission-Guidelines.php Free Content for Your Website or Blog OnceWritten.com offers two different types of programs that webmasters or bloggers can use on their website completely free of charge. Instant Writing Prompt Generator To give your users cool writing prompts, visit our Instant Writing Prompt Generator at www.oncewritten.com/FreeWebsiteContent.php Writing Contest Graph To keep a regularly updated list of upcoming contest deadlines on your website, visit our Writing Contest Graph page at www.oncewritten.com/FreeWebsiteContent.php |
Enter to Win |
Enter to Win Free Books We have some great titles for this month's book giveaway contest. To enter to win a copy of any or all of these books, visit www.oncewritten.com/Win-Free-Books.php now. You may enter as many giveaway contests as you like, but in order to win, you must enter each contest separately.
Want to See Your Book Listed Here? OnceWritten.com Featured Author package includes a listing in our book giveaway contests, which generates more than 1,000 page views per month. Learn how to Advertise your Book at OnceWritten.com. |
Email |
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